Thank you for the three million views of my stories

And a Blessed Christmas to you all

By Raïssa Robles

I would like to greet everyone a Blessed Christmas and to thank you all from my heart.

Since I put up this present site a little over a year ago, the 332 stories I have published here have been viewed a total of 3,035,101 times.

This would not at all have been possible without you all, visiting and discussing daily, and forming a community that aspires to create a better nation to hand over to our children and grandchildren. In the course of the year, we have referred to this round-the-clock gathering from all parts of the world as our “CPM” — Cyber Plaza Miranda.

Before I go on, I would also like to thank my hubby Alan who edits the content, making sure that sensitive stories are complete before I upload them, writing the heads and suggesting story structuring. He has guided my efforts in more ways than one. On top of cooking me gourmet meals everyday. Yes, he does :) Yum.

I also want to make a confession, especially to those who frequently post very incisive and well-researched comments on my site. I did not want to divulge this earlier because I didn’t want anyone to feel conscious, including myself.

But now it’s time to tell you all. That your comments are often read by senior government officials and politicians of all stripes. I know because some of them have personally told me so. For instance, I happened to bump into presidential adviser on political affairs Ronald Llamas during ex-President Joseph Estrada’s pre-birthday party. Llamas told me he read all the comments on this blog.

The funniest comment I’ve received came at the height of the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice (CJ) Renato Corona from Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. I met her for the first time during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit. She told me, with a very deadpan face – “Love ka ni CJ.”

I did know how to reply to THAT ONE.

Looking back, I now realize that the first joint project of that MOA between the Ombudsman and the COA was the meticulous analysis of CJ Corona’s movement of money in and out of his various bank accounts as captured by reported transactions to the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

This year was a very heady, exhausting roller coaster ride for me, punctuated by a foot sprain and a visit to a hospital emergency ward. But I would not have it any other way.

This is the year I came to know all you guys – perfect strangers before these – and now my eager and jolly boon companions on this dream of a better country.

What can I say?

I am blessed.

A reporter’s life had always been a lonely, even monastic one. That is, until the Internet, blogs and social networking sites were invented. Suddenly, a reporter like me has become part of an interactive community like our CPM.

Next year, I expect our CPM community to grow by leaps and bounds. I can’t do this alone.

We’re in this together.

Before I close, I would like to thank as many of you for not only coming together but sharing your thoughts, your dreams and your criticisms on this site.

There are also some who gave me vital information that contributed to the disclosure of new facts during the CJ Corona trial. I especially want to thank someone who doesn’t want to be known by name, because he said he wants to contribute more information in future investigative reports.

Based on the statistics provided by Akismet (which filters away spam and virus-filled comments), the most number of comments came from:

Leona – 2,660 comments

Johnny Lin – 2,622 comments

Mel – 1,735 comments

Baycas – 1,684 comments

Victin Luz – 926 comments

Many, many more contributed to the oftentimes lively discussions (and if I did not mention your name, please remind me).

I just managed to cull the names from the latest 132 pages of comments — there are actually 3,079 pages of comments.

I am sure there are thousands more visitors out there who are just lurking, hesitant to post any remarks. I encourage them to join one of the most vibrant and fun online political communities in this country.

I thank you all.

Among the names I managed to extract from the first 132 pages of the 3,079 pages of comments are those of:

Alizarin Viridia

Rene-Ipil

Guy With A Blog

vander anievas

duquemarino

springwoodman

chit navarro

Joe America

pinay710

Mafe

andrew lim

Cha

Rochie

DaveofBacolod

kontrapilo

Parekoy

parengtony

Rolly

jcc

Tomas Gomez III

tristanism

idde

pelang

Martial Bonifacio

elvis53J

jjorge bernas

isellnuts

Sarah

docbebot

Sarah

peregrino natividad

Ancient Mariner

TOL

David

Jan

emong

Ella Tovara

netty

Vibora

FREE BIRD

filipino_mom

Xander Carreon

macspeed

john c. jacinto

AngLagay

curveball

bengo

rOSARIO

Baltazar

curveball

jundel

rOSARIO

Arsenio Reyes

Coco

davide

Baltazar

manuelbuencamino

X

ric

Lorena

Pedro

Aremem

bfdtranscriber

Miguel

josephf

anton

arbee

Eric martial_law_baby

Bey Dumlao

blue4cor –

joseph

runen

ed celis

romy

priscila sereno -reyes

praetorius

rejtatel

PriscillaLu1234

upright bike

Jherskie

Targrod

Aurora Pascua

santiago katumbal

Muhammad Eisa de Jesus

Rigo

rallie florencio

yeheywater

fed_up

Jett Rink

janine

gayyem

allan

Jrivera999

w1lly954

AUGUST C FERNANDO

REY NATHANIEL IFURUNG

Yen678

Helena

viewko

Annie von Nebenan

vivian

zamera

Polpot

mera

et

Political Jaywalker

J – 12

JJ

Karl

moonie

Rasec3

Santa Monican Pinay

Rossi

Jaime Miniano

jeproks2002

francis

JosephIvo

jptconsult

Manuel C. Diaz

nene

Rasec3

jjvillamor

nene

Monty

katataspulong

Gene Simmowns

ManongNoy

Roger Federer

raffy

agot

kobe

edgardo m. oreta

Joe Sevilla

scrEaMing mANgo

danny

Mmc88mmc

Joe Sevilla

Antonio Yang III

pangs

YlocanaBelle

line of flight

Jorge Capule

rallie f. Cruz

flash

Rafael Lagahit

sid arabia

shiloh

pordoy

Juan deLECHE!

DaBees

kevinj

Edwin

kontrapilo

julio cesaro

Magda

vincent

Jak n d’box

Baltazar

chris sulit

fcb328

Island Hopes

PABLO

JM Marquez

JBDB

Gellybeans

clearpasig

AlbertG

one love

vanGogh

mabyrik

Michelle

Kalahari

bangsamoro brother

jose_ynigo

jiji

Fervent wish

DJMM

Pogo

Astocanewri

OnesimusUnbound

trekkers

zephyr

Anonime

I’ll wait

Alem

boy valero

yakyak

David Garcia

William Dorado

Rex Guzman

Conrado Morales

Pearl Liu

Danilo Silvestre

Juancho Ong

Rafael Perez

riofai@yahoo.com

In the spirit of Christmas, I would like to share with you two photos I took. The first one (above) is a painting of the Nativity I took inside the Cathedral in Siena.

The second one (below) is a photo I took of my favorite Cathedral – the one in Assisi, where my favorite Saint is buried.

Here is an excerpt from the movie “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” shot on location there.

And below that is a song from the same movie which expresses how I feel about this blog and our ever-growing Cyber Plaza Community. We have to build democracy stone by stone.

Happy New Year to ALL of YOU my fellow CPMER’s most especially to Ma’am Raissa and Allan for allowing me to be a PART of the cpmer’s FAMILY ” kahit po balubaluktot ang grammar ko ay naiintindihan nyo parin ako lalo ang kaibigan kong si @ Mcspeed ”

Pahabol bati…… MERRY CHRITSMAS AND A HAPPY AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR to all CPM, especially to you Raissa and Allan. May the blessings of God be with you in 2013.

# 62 – reflection shared by Fr. Eliseo Mercado

Deep in our hearts, we love to feel and think that Bethlehem and Jerusalem are the springboards for our lovegiving and soul enriching but in reality Now these two holy places are both divided by high separation walls – Bethlehem under Palestine and Jerusalem under Israel – which is so heart breaking. Just to see those Palestinians outside the walls waiting for proper papers to enter Jerusalem especially for jobs is shattering. Israelis (back by US) are landgrabbing the territories owned by he Palestinians. Any Palestinians entering these landgrabbed territories are shot down by the Israelis. Recently, UN gave a non observer status to Palestine which would lead to a Palestine statehood. Its so sad to see Bethlehem and Jerusalem now as the places for fightings and killings, the very places where Jesus was born and died. Our tour guide for our Holy Land pilgrimage said we have to keep on doing our pilgrimages or else the Isrealis will close Jerusalem and Bethlehem, thus, becoming a no enter area for outsiders. I do pray everyday for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine.

A prime example of extreme arrogance, unbridled ambition, political incontinence and presumptousness. The 3 UNA kingpins are sooooo cocky because of their overwhelming desire to put their respective “UNAno” – meaning underdeveloped – scion in the senate. They have the uncontrollable urge to impose on the Filipino people the mediocre among their offsprings and assuming without shame that the people are soooo gullible, if not stupid, to swallow their waste matter.

Merry Christmas Ms Raissa. Thank you for putting up this blog as well as all the CPM peeps who never shies from speaking their minds and contributing to the free discourse.. I may not be as visible as others, but i always make it a habit to read any new articles that is being posted here… there was another website im not sure if its from blogspot where I read your older articles before you put this up.. Thank you again, and i hope you continue to keep the flame of investigative journalism burning.. for by informing the public, they are able to make sound decisions..

HappY New Year Ms. Raissa and Sir Alan. . . May God continue to bless you with passion and intelligence through cyber journalism. . . ^_^ Thank You for the very informative articles you have shared to us. . . God Bless and I Look forward seeing an interesting 2013 0 ELECTION TIME. . . ^_^

Pardon the smart alecky-ness of this comment ; its inability to grasp.
As a whole what’s the message? Who’s the second child? The third child?
Is searching for Santa searching for Bethlehem in the soul? In the English language
Speaking world, this piece can be adjudged rubbish. Bethlehem , Santa and the soul can be entities or symbols and needs contextual massage. I now partly understand why our clergy’s actuations and thinking are criticized. They don’t come to the point.

Jesus was born in a humble place not in LA’s Beverly Hills or biblical Sodom and Gomorra. Nowadays even non-Christians know what that means.

There is nothing wrong in believing or disbelieving in Santa, he is the symbol of actualization of Jesus’ goodness and love for both adults and children as they
celebrate His birthday.

Nobody is scientifically sure not even the Cardinals and Bishops about the soul
but it is not wrong to believe that what we do from Christmas to Christmas
significantly affect the soul. Here’s the smacker: Because Jesus was truly
born, Faith has nothing to do with Christmas.

Used to be a lurker! :D Not that I didn’t have anything to say, just that I was enjoying a lot reading all the comments. Plus my younger kid demands to be cuddled and patted all the time – no hands free to do the typing :D

If i remember correctly he is the same guy who cried in the impeachment trial because his PDAF or pork was delayed due to his own fault not complying with DBM requirements. The same guy who tried to protect corona but failed miserably.

Alam ba ni Tiangco na si Winston Garcia ay appointed ni gloria arroyo to GSIS and have some legal issues during his term in office, and yet he is supporting this guy?

Part II: Deja Vu
Ex-Governor garcia words and statements are the same used by no other than GMA, Corona, Abalos and Morato.

1st they all said its only “Politically Motivated.”

2nd Suddenly supporters appears in the scene to show force.

3rd when a court issues a arrest warrant they will either
– Get a hospital arrest because they suddenly got sick + requires a wheelchair
– They will seek to leave the country to get some specialist 2nd opinion due to their health.
– Then their lawyers will pretend to be healthcare professionals and issue health bulletin

4th Once proven guilty (like the corona trial), people like enrile and jinggoy will suddenly ask the civil authorities (BIR and ombudsman) not to pursue other legal actions and instead pabayaan na lang since napahiya na yung tao.

I believe with this recent events proves that UNA is really connected with GMA and her cohorts.

@ Martial… well written comments. I remember that Toby T. during the corakot impeachment. The guy with a teenager hairdo! To my book, another unqualified person to hold a high elected position. Why is it that in the Philippines, plenty of kurakot, uneducated and not really qualified to their high position (in a way, kahit well educated… kurakot pa din), too many belong to mag-anak or kami-kami party? Wala na ba talagang matino na karapat-dapat malagay sa puwesto? Masyado ng kawawa si Juan dela Cruz.

By the way, THANK YOU SO MUCH, RAISSA for remembering my internet alias. I am retired now but very pre-occupied with my loving little dog and fly fishing (I remember one of your advice to my fellow CPM) OK… I will train her to type. He.he.he

Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and family. Also.. to all fellow CPM. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.

As a Gospel Truth seeker desirous of practicing his religion free from any pagan vestige or errors of interpretation from the original Holy Bible, I often get entangled in situations that cause the weakening of my faith.

One such situation happened on Dec. 17’s “Simbang Gabi” Mass where the priest’s homily was about Christ’ genealogy.

The priest read: “The total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.”

I have no quarrel with this; it fits in nicely with what is written in the Holy Scriptures.

My trouble emerged when he named the fourteen generations that comprised the genealogy after the Babylonian exile to the birth of Christ.

According to him: “After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel1, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel2, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud3, Abiud became the father of Eliakim4, Eliakim the father of Azor5, Azor the father of Zadok6, Zadok became the father of Achim7, Achim the father of Eliud8, Eliud the father of Eleazar9, Eleazar became the father of Matthan10, Matthan the father of Jacob11, Jacob the father of Joseph12, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.13”
(Numbering is mine.)

There are two things that are wrong here:
1. It appears that Christ was the biological Son of Mary and husband and, therefore,
did not come to earth thru Virgin Birth. This is contrary to our Catholic belief;

2. There are only thirteen, not fourteen, generations from the Babylonian exile to
the Christ.

In my search and research for the Gospel Truth about Christ’s genearlogy, I came upon the explanation of Michael Rood, a retired U.S. Marine and a Messianic Jew from this link:

There is hardly any currently practiced religious rite that has no antecedent in pagan societies before religion instituted/organized unexplainable phenomena/superstition into religious/dogmatic creed. Much of tradition that has been carried forward forms the bedrock of faith. That is the human experience.

I would like to share with you guys a reflection shared by Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, about Christmas –

SEARCHING FOR BETHLEHEM IN THE SOUL

Almost everything about Christmas, from its deep real meaning to the piety and even (ironically) the commercialism we surround it with, invites us to be that third child.

But that’s not easy. To be an adult is precisely to be experienced, complex, wounded. To be an adult is to have lost one’s innocence. None of us, unless we die very young, carries the dignity of our person and of our baptism unstained through life. We fall, we compromise, we sin, we get hurt, we hurt others, and mostly we grow ever more pathologically complex, with layer after layer of emotional and intellectual complexity separating us from when we were children who
once waited for Christmas in innocence and joyful anticipation. And that can be painful.

Sometimes, if we’re sensitive, the innocence of children can be like the stab of knife to the soul, making us feel as if we’ve fallen from ourselves. But, in the end, that’s an unhealthy over-idealization. We’re not meant to be children forever and innocence will always be lost.

Sometimes, more positively, we get to experience our old innocence and youthful wonder vicariously in the eyes of our own children, in their joyful anticipation and gleeful celebration of Christmas. Their belief in Santa and the wonder in their eyes as they look at the baby-Jesus in the crib help us find a certain softness inside again; not at the same place where we once felt things when we were children and still believed in Santa (because that would only bring the painful stab of nostalgia) but at a new place, a place beyond where we defined ourselves as grown-up (because that’s the place where wisdom is born).

That’s also the place where Jesus is born. That’s Bethlehem in the soul.

I have posted several times, of course airing my own views on the matter at hand. I view myself as a bonafide Filipino CPMer, Sometimes I am mistaken for a troll (whatever the term actually means kasi merong nagpapadaplis/ magpapalipad-hangin kung baga, nang ganoon, when I post a dissenting opinion, and I just post some of the time.

I am a regular reader with an advocacy which I wish in my heart I could tell you all.

In line with Daang Matuwid which should actually be synonymous with Tamang Daan kasi for some Matuwid means conformable with existing laws. What do you do when the laws are defective from years back.

Right now even if there would be commenters to this post, I will be unable to answer since I am busy writing a reply with a deadline.

MALIGAYANG PASKO sa lahat.. Huli man daw at magaling …ay huli pa rin :-) Salamat sa mga bumati. Baltazar (..err was he one of the Tatlong Haring Gago ? :-) ) has been too busy since he came back from overseas due to the sad passing of one of his in laws. (really untimely , it was).
Well, we have seen here at CPM even those nasty threat especially during the CJ trial. I expect that during this 2013 election season, those who threw mud before will pratically throw s#it at CPM …so beware. If we went against a corrupt CJ last time – this time we will be going against a bunch of morons who want a seat in the senate, congress etc…Bullets will definitely be fired from anywhere so , shield on, duck down, lock and load, aim and fire..in short, prepare. I foresee more and more showdowns between CPM’rs and the defenders of the IL Senatores BTW, IL – Ignoramus League …
Alan & Raissa thanks to your tandem…All CPMers – .. a blessed 2013 ahead!

@raissa,I expect you to be in the thick of the battle
..I’m there :-).
WRT the gift, dunno really. Protestants did not name the Magis the way Catholics did . Anyways there were only Gold , Myrrh & Frankincense , I ‘ll choose Gold because it’s a gift fitted to a king – the Lord Jesus.

Previous to 2006, I often declare with finality to my colleagues in the academe: “If God has wanted me to live elsewhere, I should have been born there.”

I have broken that vow.

Since then, I have lived with a heavy burden of guilt. I began to shrivel.

Then I discovered this blog which “Live Traffic Feed” (right pane) tells me it is read not only by influential people who rules the country but also by country-loving Filipinos who were forced to leave because of harsh realities at home.

My participation here has transfigured me into thinking that today we are all citizens of one global village. Needless to say, my life has taken on a new meaning and beginning.

Joining in the discussions here gives me the feeling that one doesn’t have to have both feet planted on the soil where he saw the first light of day in order for his voice to be heard in the course of nation building.

Thanks Ms Raissa for giving me redemption and validation.

When the time comes, I go to my grave happy with the thought that I did not break any vow.

Merry Christmas to you, your hubby and kids, and to all who congregate here (CPMers).

On my last day of school in the small office which I headed, I wrote on the whiteboard:

“Nobody stays in one place forever.

We all have to go in our own time.

My own time has come.

etc”

I have always maintained that teaching is one of the noble professions. But let’s face it, teaching in the Philippines is not financially rewarding. This is the reason why, long before the passage of the RH bill, I have planned to limit the number of my children to four.

As an educator, I believed that the school should always be a generator of good values that would spill over its campus to the “real world”.

We all know how bad is the “real world” where our children are and children’s children will be living in.

Going back to school to teach is out of the question for me now. My sun has started to set in.

All I desire now is to be able to contribute my ideas in your blog for the improvement of the state of affairs in our country today.

Happy New Year to ALL of YOU my fellow CPMER’s most especially to Ma’am Raissa and Allan for allowing me to be a PART of the cpmer’s FAMILY ” kahit po balubaluktot ang grammar ko ay naiintindihan nyo parin ako lalo ang kaibigan kong si @ Mcspeed ”

Pahabol bati…… MERRY CHRITSMAS AND A HAPPY AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR to all CPM, especially to you Raissa and Allan. May the blessings of God be with you in 2013.

# 62 – reflection shared by Fr. Eliseo Mercado

Deep in our hearts, we love to feel and think that Bethlehem and Jerusalem are the springboards for our lovegiving and soul enriching but in reality Now these two holy places are both divided by high separation walls – Bethlehem under Palestine and Jerusalem under Israel – which is so heart breaking. Just to see those Palestinians outside the walls waiting for proper papers to enter Jerusalem especially for jobs is shattering. Israelis (back by US) are landgrabbing the territories owned by he Palestinians. Any Palestinians entering these landgrabbed territories are shot down by the Israelis. Recently, UN gave a non observer status to Palestine which would lead to a Palestine statehood. Its so sad to see Bethlehem and Jerusalem now as the places for fightings and killings, the very places where Jesus was born and died. Our tour guide for our Holy Land pilgrimage said we have to keep on doing our pilgrimages or else the Isrealis will close Jerusalem and Bethlehem, thus, becoming a no enter area for outsiders. I do pray everyday for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine.

A prime example of extreme arrogance, unbridled ambition, political incontinence and presumptousness. The 3 UNA kingpins are sooooo cocky because of their overwhelming desire to put their respective “UNAno” – meaning underdeveloped – scion in the senate. They have the uncontrollable urge to impose on the Filipino people the mediocre among their offsprings and assuming without shame that the people are soooo gullible, if not stupid, to swallow their waste matter.

Merry Christmas Ms Raissa. Thank you for putting up this blog as well as all the CPM peeps who never shies from speaking their minds and contributing to the free discourse.. I may not be as visible as others, but i always make it a habit to read any new articles that is being posted here… there was another website im not sure if its from blogspot where I read your older articles before you put this up.. Thank you again, and i hope you continue to keep the flame of investigative journalism burning.. for by informing the public, they are able to make sound decisions..

HappY New Year Ms. Raissa and Sir Alan. . . May God continue to bless you with passion and intelligence through cyber journalism. . . ^_^ Thank You for the very informative articles you have shared to us. . . God Bless and I Look forward seeing an interesting 2013 0 ELECTION TIME. . . ^_^

Pardon the smart alecky-ness of this comment ; its inability to grasp.
As a whole what’s the message? Who’s the second child? The third child?
Is searching for Santa searching for Bethlehem in the soul? In the English language
Speaking world, this piece can be adjudged rubbish. Bethlehem , Santa and the soul can be entities or symbols and needs contextual massage. I now partly understand why our clergy’s actuations and thinking are criticized. They don’t come to the point.

Jesus was born in a humble place not in LA’s Beverly Hills or biblical Sodom and Gomorra. Nowadays even non-Christians know what that means.

There is nothing wrong in believing or disbelieving in Santa, he is the symbol of actualization of Jesus’ goodness and love for both adults and children as they
celebrate His birthday.

Nobody is scientifically sure not even the Cardinals and Bishops about the soul
but it is not wrong to believe that what we do from Christmas to Christmas
significantly affect the soul. Here’s the smacker: Because Jesus was truly
born, Faith has nothing to do with Christmas.

Used to be a lurker! :D Not that I didn’t have anything to say, just that I was enjoying a lot reading all the comments. Plus my younger kid demands to be cuddled and patted all the time – no hands free to do the typing :D

If i remember correctly he is the same guy who cried in the impeachment trial because his PDAF or pork was delayed due to his own fault not complying with DBM requirements. The same guy who tried to protect corona but failed miserably.

Alam ba ni Tiangco na si Winston Garcia ay appointed ni gloria arroyo to GSIS and have some legal issues during his term in office, and yet he is supporting this guy?

Part II: Deja Vu
Ex-Governor garcia words and statements are the same used by no other than GMA, Corona, Abalos and Morato.

1st they all said its only “Politically Motivated.”

2nd Suddenly supporters appears in the scene to show force.

3rd when a court issues a arrest warrant they will either
– Get a hospital arrest because they suddenly got sick + requires a wheelchair
– They will seek to leave the country to get some specialist 2nd opinion due to their health.
– Then their lawyers will pretend to be healthcare professionals and issue health bulletin

4th Once proven guilty (like the corona trial), people like enrile and jinggoy will suddenly ask the civil authorities (BIR and ombudsman) not to pursue other legal actions and instead pabayaan na lang since napahiya na yung tao.

I believe with this recent events proves that UNA is really connected with GMA and her cohorts.

@ Martial… well written comments. I remember that Toby T. during the corakot impeachment. The guy with a teenager hairdo! To my book, another unqualified person to hold a high elected position. Why is it that in the Philippines, plenty of kurakot, uneducated and not really qualified to their high position (in a way, kahit well educated… kurakot pa din), too many belong to mag-anak or kami-kami party? Wala na ba talagang matino na karapat-dapat malagay sa puwesto? Masyado ng kawawa si Juan dela Cruz.

By the way, THANK YOU SO MUCH, RAISSA for remembering my internet alias. I am retired now but very pre-occupied with my loving little dog and fly fishing (I remember one of your advice to my fellow CPM) OK… I will train her to type. He.he.he

Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and family. Also.. to all fellow CPM. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.

As a Gospel Truth seeker desirous of practicing his religion free from any pagan vestige or errors of interpretation from the original Holy Bible, I often get entangled in situations that cause the weakening of my faith.

One such situation happened on Dec. 17’s “Simbang Gabi” Mass where the priest’s homily was about Christ’ genealogy.

The priest read: “The total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.”

I have no quarrel with this; it fits in nicely with what is written in the Holy Scriptures.

My trouble emerged when he named the fourteen generations that comprised the genealogy after the Babylonian exile to the birth of Christ.

According to him: “After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel1, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel2, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud3, Abiud became the father of Eliakim4, Eliakim the father of Azor5, Azor the father of Zadok6, Zadok became the father of Achim7, Achim the father of Eliud8, Eliud the father of Eleazar9, Eleazar became the father of Matthan10, Matthan the father of Jacob11, Jacob the father of Joseph12, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.13”
(Numbering is mine.)

There are two things that are wrong here:
1. It appears that Christ was the biological Son of Mary and husband and, therefore,
did not come to earth thru Virgin Birth. This is contrary to our Catholic belief;

2. There are only thirteen, not fourteen, generations from the Babylonian exile to
the Christ.

In my search and research for the Gospel Truth about Christ’s genearlogy, I came upon the explanation of Michael Rood, a retired U.S. Marine and a Messianic Jew from this link:

There is hardly any currently practiced religious rite that has no antecedent in pagan societies before religion instituted/organized unexplainable phenomena/superstition into religious/dogmatic creed. Much of tradition that has been carried forward forms the bedrock of faith. That is the human experience.

I would like to share with you guys a reflection shared by Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, about Christmas –

SEARCHING FOR BETHLEHEM IN THE SOUL

Almost everything about Christmas, from its deep real meaning to the piety and even (ironically) the commercialism we surround it with, invites us to be that third child.

But that’s not easy. To be an adult is precisely to be experienced, complex, wounded. To be an adult is to have lost one’s innocence. None of us, unless we die very young, carries the dignity of our person and of our baptism unstained through life. We fall, we compromise, we sin, we get hurt, we hurt others, and mostly we grow ever more pathologically complex, with layer after layer of emotional and intellectual complexity separating us from when we were children who
once waited for Christmas in innocence and joyful anticipation. And that can be painful.

Sometimes, if we’re sensitive, the innocence of children can be like the stab of knife to the soul, making us feel as if we’ve fallen from ourselves. But, in the end, that’s an unhealthy over-idealization. We’re not meant to be children forever and innocence will always be lost.

Sometimes, more positively, we get to experience our old innocence and youthful wonder vicariously in the eyes of our own children, in their joyful anticipation and gleeful celebration of Christmas. Their belief in Santa and the wonder in their eyes as they look at the baby-Jesus in the crib help us find a certain softness inside again; not at the same place where we once felt things when we were children and still believed in Santa (because that would only bring the painful stab of nostalgia) but at a new place, a place beyond where we defined ourselves as grown-up (because that’s the place where wisdom is born).

That’s also the place where Jesus is born. That’s Bethlehem in the soul.

I have posted several times, of course airing my own views on the matter at hand. I view myself as a bonafide Filipino CPMer, Sometimes I am mistaken for a troll (whatever the term actually means kasi merong nagpapadaplis/ magpapalipad-hangin kung baga, nang ganoon, when I post a dissenting opinion, and I just post some of the time.

I am a regular reader with an advocacy which I wish in my heart I could tell you all.

In line with Daang Matuwid which should actually be synonymous with Tamang Daan kasi for some Matuwid means conformable with existing laws. What do you do when the laws are defective from years back.

Right now even if there would be commenters to this post, I will be unable to answer since I am busy writing a reply with a deadline.

MALIGAYANG PASKO sa lahat.. Huli man daw at magaling …ay huli pa rin :-) Salamat sa mga bumati. Baltazar (..err was he one of the Tatlong Haring Gago ? :-) ) has been too busy since he came back from overseas due to the sad passing of one of his in laws. (really untimely , it was).
Well, we have seen here at CPM even those nasty threat especially during the CJ trial. I expect that during this 2013 election season, those who threw mud before will pratically throw s#it at CPM …so beware. If we went against a corrupt CJ last time – this time we will be going against a bunch of morons who want a seat in the senate, congress etc…Bullets will definitely be fired from anywhere so , shield on, duck down, lock and load, aim and fire..in short, prepare. I foresee more and more showdowns between CPM’rs and the defenders of the IL Senatores BTW, IL – Ignoramus League …
Alan & Raissa thanks to your tandem…All CPMers – .. a blessed 2013 ahead!

@raissa,I expect you to be in the thick of the battle
..I’m there :-).
WRT the gift, dunno really. Protestants did not name the Magis the way Catholics did . Anyways there were only Gold , Myrrh & Frankincense , I ‘ll choose Gold because it’s a gift fitted to a king – the Lord Jesus.

Previous to 2006, I often declare with finality to my colleagues in the academe: “If God has wanted me to live elsewhere, I should have been born there.”

I have broken that vow.

Since then, I have lived with a heavy burden of guilt. I began to shrivel.

Then I discovered this blog which “Live Traffic Feed” (right pane) tells me it is read not only by influential people who rules the country but also by country-loving Filipinos who were forced to leave because of harsh realities at home.

My participation here has transfigured me into thinking that today we are all citizens of one global village. Needless to say, my life has taken on a new meaning and beginning.

Joining in the discussions here gives me the feeling that one doesn’t have to have both feet planted on the soil where he saw the first light of day in order for his voice to be heard in the course of nation building.

Thanks Ms Raissa for giving me redemption and validation.

When the time comes, I go to my grave happy with the thought that I did not break any vow.

Merry Christmas to you, your hubby and kids, and to all who congregate here (CPMers).

On my last day of school in the small office which I headed, I wrote on the whiteboard:

“Nobody stays in one place forever.

We all have to go in our own time.

My own time has come.

etc”

I have always maintained that teaching is one of the noble professions. But let’s face it, teaching in the Philippines is not financially rewarding. This is the reason why, long before the passage of the RH bill, I have planned to limit the number of my children to four.

As an educator, I believed that the school should always be a generator of good values that would spill over its campus to the “real world”.

We all know how bad is the “real world” where our children are and children’s children will be living in.

Going back to school to teach is out of the question for me now. My sun has started to set in.

All I desire now is to be able to contribute my ideas in your blog for the improvement of the state of affairs in our country today.